Students have growing interest in GPS as smart phone applications
By Ashley Bene
Stand alone GPS devices are being phased out for GPS applications on smart phones.(Photo/Ashley Bene)
Smart phones are a hot commodity on the University of Georgia campus.
Already these phones have taken over the jobs of many other devices. Students can store and listen to their music and use the Internet, among other downloadable applications, on these phones. But what about using their phones to find their way around Athens when they are new to the city as first year students?
In past years, the sales of stand-alone GPS devices have increased consistently. With the recent economic downturn, however, the trend has taken a new direction.
2009 has seen an increase in the number of people buying iPhones and other smart phones that will allow them to use GPS instead of having to buy a stand-alone GPS device, according to an article in the New York Times.
Brandon Banks, a sales associate at the Apple Store on Lexington Road, said he has seen a lot of college-age students looking for iPhones in the store. While the GPS application is not their main concern, he said it is a beseeching feature.
“In general, it makes the iPhone more appealing,” said Banks. “It’s just one less thing that you have to carry around and keep up with.”
Sarah Burr, a sophomore double major in history and philosophy from McDonough, Ga., seemed to have the same opinion. She said she would find a GPS device very helpful in Athens, and she would be interested in having GPS as an iPhone application instead of a stand-alone device.
“Then I’d have my music, phone, and directions all in one place,” said Burr.
Devon Gibson, a freshman majoring in international business from Cartersville, Ga. and Ryan Michalak, a junior majoring in real estate from Valdosta, Ga., shared different opinions.
Michalak felt that paying the one-time fee for a stand-alone GPS device was a better deal than buying an iPhone and paying a monthly fee for the application.
Gibson, who already owns a GPS-application-capable Blackberry, just doesn’t see a need to pay the monthly fee for the feature. He just uses Yahoo Maps to plan his trip before he leaves.
Banks says the cell phone GPS applications run off the same operating system as the stand-alone devices, so there usually are not discrepancies between the two. There are no added features that the smart phone GPS devices have that the stand-alone devices do not.
There are some changes that could be made to GPS devices to make them more appealing to college students, however.
For Burr, it’s all about the cost. She said her main reason for not already having a GPS is the price.
“I just have other expenses that are more pressing,” said Burr.
Michalak expressed interest in a GPS that comes with Lane Assistance.
“It shows you a picture on your GPS so you can see which lane you’re supposed to be in,” he explained. His doesn’t have the feature, which would help him navigate the interstates through Atlanta.
Gibson said he would use GPS if it was free on his cell phone, or he said he could see himself using it if he moved to a different part of the country. Until then, GPS manufacturers will probably not be receiving his business.
While some students choose to stick to planning their trips ahead of time through Google maps, many are opting for the spontaneity a smart phone with GPS can provide.
Already these phones have taken over the jobs of many other devices. Students can store and listen to their music and use the Internet, among other downloadable applications, on these phones. But what about using their phones to find their way around Athens when they are new to the city as first year students?
In past years, the sales of stand-alone GPS devices have increased consistently. With the recent economic downturn, however, the trend has taken a new direction.
2009 has seen an increase in the number of people buying iPhones and other smart phones that will allow them to use GPS instead of having to buy a stand-alone GPS device, according to an article in the New York Times.
Brandon Banks, a sales associate at the Apple Store on Lexington Road, said he has seen a lot of college-age students looking for iPhones in the store. While the GPS application is not their main concern, he said it is a beseeching feature.
“In general, it makes the iPhone more appealing,” said Banks. “It’s just one less thing that you have to carry around and keep up with.”
Sarah Burr, a sophomore double major in history and philosophy from McDonough, Ga., seemed to have the same opinion. She said she would find a GPS device very helpful in Athens, and she would be interested in having GPS as an iPhone application instead of a stand-alone device.
“Then I’d have my music, phone, and directions all in one place,” said Burr.
Devon Gibson, a freshman majoring in international business from Cartersville, Ga. and Ryan Michalak, a junior majoring in real estate from Valdosta, Ga., shared different opinions.
Michalak felt that paying the one-time fee for a stand-alone GPS device was a better deal than buying an iPhone and paying a monthly fee for the application.
Gibson, who already owns a GPS-application-capable Blackberry, just doesn’t see a need to pay the monthly fee for the feature. He just uses Yahoo Maps to plan his trip before he leaves.
Banks says the cell phone GPS applications run off the same operating system as the stand-alone devices, so there usually are not discrepancies between the two. There are no added features that the smart phone GPS devices have that the stand-alone devices do not.
There are some changes that could be made to GPS devices to make them more appealing to college students, however.
For Burr, it’s all about the cost. She said her main reason for not already having a GPS is the price.
“I just have other expenses that are more pressing,” said Burr.
Michalak expressed interest in a GPS that comes with Lane Assistance.
“It shows you a picture on your GPS so you can see which lane you’re supposed to be in,” he explained. His doesn’t have the feature, which would help him navigate the interstates through Atlanta.
Gibson said he would use GPS if it was free on his cell phone, or he said he could see himself using it if he moved to a different part of the country. Until then, GPS manufacturers will probably not be receiving his business.
While some students choose to stick to planning their trips ahead of time through Google maps, many are opting for the spontaneity a smart phone with GPS can provide.
Edited by Alexis Economy and Dana Hortman
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